The Little Man in my Life

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras






A little over a year ago....I decided to take the plunge and commit myself to the man of my dreams. Some thought that I would never settle down.....but it took a special guy to bring me over to the other side!


Winston was small, a little hairy and liked to kiss alot. He snored (which took a while to get used too) and demanded a lot of attention. Once we got over the initial "getting to know you" phase of living together....we really set into a nice routine. We would get up in the mornings and have breakfast and usually he would hold down the fort as I went off to work. After work we would usually take a nice walk or hang out at the dog park to see all of his friends. Some nights we would even hang on the couch and watch a little TV....depending what we were in the mood for.
Oh we have had our differences for sure. For example......Winston is not one for sharing. He never likes to share his food, toys or even his time with me. Whenever I bring a friend home he is very funny in the way he handles them. Usually he nibbles....whines or even throws a toy at them to see if they are going to pay him the attention he so deserves (at least he thinks!). We are slowly working on "sharing" Mom......and perhaps in the future he will come to understand that he is not always the center of attention. Of course...I have to admit....I am kind of an attention grabber myself....so maybe he learned a little of that from me!

All in all I would not trade the little guy for the world. I always tell everyone he is by far the best investment I have ever made in my life. He has brought so much joy and peace to me and has allowed me to experience life as it should be. He has also taught me a very simple lesson: "Don't sweat the small stuff". Before he came along I was so anal about being neat, organized and "to the tee" on every detail of life. Ok...maybe I still am a little tight on some of those things....but for the most part I have lightened my load a great deal. Winston has taught me the beauty of unconditional love and the spirit of giving. I no longer always think of myself ....in fact I would do anything for him. It pains me to have to put him in the kennel, leave him at home or ever see him suffer.

God works in mysterious ways. I know I am a slow learner and most definitely a slow student in the world of marriage, children, etc. However I believe that Winston was a gift given to me later in life to prepare for the future. I am more confident than ever now that I can "live" with someone else, that I can love and I most certainly have the tools to give of myself to others. So on this day, I say thank you to the Little Man in My Life, Winston!

Ahh...Pooh! Love you!

My Brother Joe

"A friend is a brother who was once a bother" ~Author Unknown

My brother Joe is a probably one of the most unique individuals you will ever meet. He is unique in the sense that he is who he is and he makes no bones about it. For those that know him well knows that he has a nickname for everyone (little, pops, moms, c, d, slats); he continues to carry out every tradition from his childhood; eats ice cream from the container (and leaves the spoon in there when finished); calls my mom and dad often to talk about the weather, Carolina games or even what they are having for dinner that night; he is notorious for his gaseous conditions; he has a bad habit of trying to do everything at one time and he loves to "taste" everyone else's food at the dinner table. Joe is unique alright.

But Joe is unique in other ways too. You see Joe is two years younger than I am and while we were younger I always felt like the big sister. However as we have grown older....the roles have shifted and I have now looked to Joe as my big brother. He has matured into such a loving individual. Not that Joe was not loving and giving as a child, but when you are a kid....you don't easily recognize those traits!


Joe is a giver, has always been. He is always willing to share anything that he has and if he doesn't have it....he will find it and give it to you. A story that is rarely told but I find compelled to tell it here is one that my youngest brother told of Joe on a trip out west years ago. Mike was staying in San Francisco with Joe while doing an internship for a week. While coming back one night over the Golden Gate Bridge it was rainy and cold. As they drove a long, they passed a man who was shirtless. Mike said that Joe slowly pulled the car over and ran over to the guy pulled off his own shirt and put it on over onto the man who was walking. Joe hopped back into the car and not another word was said. That is just Joe. He never does anything to grab attention or to gain brownie points.....he just "does".

Each day, Joe walks around with a rosary in his pocket. He never says a cuss word. He calls my father faithfully every Sunday morning and he is a pillar in each of his siblings lives....not to mention an adoring husband. I have never met anyone like Joe before and I truly believe he is the most giving person I have ever met in my life (and I am not just saying that because he is my brother). If we all took just a quarter of the care that Joe puts into others.....the world might just be a little lighter. And I believe God would be at peace. I look forward to watching Joe move into fatherhood someday because I know he will instill within his own children all of this warm and sincere traits that he carries with him each and everyday.







I love you Joe!

Nothing Finer than Carolina!

On Saturday....my brother Joe treated my parents and I to tickets to the second round of the NCAA tournament in Greensboro. What an exciting day! We were only a couple rows behind the Carolina bench, inches away from Hansbrough's Dad and within eyesight of the song sheets of the Tarheel Pep Band! It was a lot of fun....and my mother was in Carolina Heaven. I am just glad we were able to also pull off the win (Please stay healthy Lawson...)! Let's just hope we keep on winning....go heels!

Old Friends and Stars

"Good friends are like stars.....you don't always see them, but you know they are always there"-Anonymous

Julie and I met when I was 15 (the summer before my sophomore year in high school). I thought she was the funniest person I had ever met. I should have known then that she was going to be around for a long, long time. Since that day Julie and I have had some fun times. We have shared a lot of peppermint patties over the not so great times and as we got older a beer (or 10) when we really wanted to have some good times!

In the past few years as we both have gotten older our lives have become more hectic. Julie got married and started a successful career as a real estate agent and moved to Charlotte. I went my way and well...by now...you know my story. Smile. But as most friendships do, they change. I realized a year or two ago that my relationship with Julie was never going to be the same because there was someone else in her life that was more important than my latest dating disaster or wardrobe meltdown. And somehow....I let that paralyze me and the friendship for a moment in time. I even wondered if we would ever have the type of relationship that I loved so much.

It was not until yesterday that I had an urge to pick up the phone and call Julie did I realize that a lot of my "fears" were all in my head and my "perceptions" were just that. You see...true friends never really go away. The relationships may take a different shape or form, but the dynamics never change. After only minutes on the phone with Jules....it felt like old times. We were both laughing and chatting as if time had not even passed us by and it was then that I felt so bad for having all of those silly feelings. However I think that I probably needed to have them just to appreciate her more.

So next week, Jules (aka FRED as so many called her in HS) and I are having lunch and catching up. Of course she wants to know more about mystery man....but mostly we just want to have some quality Jen and Jules time. Yahoo!

God, Sushi and a whole lot of fun

"People go to casinos for the same reason they go on blind dates - hoping to hit the jackpot. But mostly, you just wind up broke or alone in a bar."- Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex in the City

So in a previous blog I mentioned that I had been set up by an old friend from high school on a blind date. As hesitant as I was...I somehow agreed to go through with meeting the mystery man. Well.....much to my surprise, turns out mystery man wasn't so bad. He made the first move (bonus in my book) by emailing me a nice little introduction of himself. Now for those of you who are a little old school, emailing has replaced the initial phone call in the world of dating in 2009. It's far less nerve-wracking and it allows the individual to open up a little more.

So I received the first email....and in my true fashion I wrote back. A novel. Yes, as you could imagine I found that as a free way to say just about everything I would want to say....but without any inhibitions and cute little smiley faces. Cheesy I know...but hey...what did I have to lose at that point right? I had not met him yet. Needless to say....he enjoyed the writing too and I felt as if we were swept back to years ago when letters were exchanged as a means of affection and communication. The emails continued for a few days until we decided to brave the first phone conversation.

It did not surprise me in the least that after seeing how long our emails had become that our first phone conversation was 2 1/2 hours long! The second phone conversation lasted 2 hours. Needless to say we never lacked a topic to discuss. Everything from religion to politics to college experiences (yes, he went to NC State....but I have not held that against him yet) to family and friends. This was the first time that I had actually gotten to "know" someone before I actually "met" them.

As you could imagine...the intensity continued to build. So last week...we decided to meet. He drove to my house and we watched the Duke vs. Carolina game (brave man). After a victorious win for the heels....we decided to do a little Mexican (can it get any better??). Now top all of this off with Winston (the pug) interviewing him as well. Tough crowd. But as you might have guessed.....Winston is a push over...and as soon as saw it was OK to jump up on his lap.....he was approved. Too easy.

The week was great with another dinner date in Chapel Hill (Foster's....yeah!) and we topped off the week with meeting in Raleigh (his home turf) for a wonderful evening. We actually went to mass together (and as I told Kerry....never hurts to have God on your side to start a date:)) had a drink with our matchmakers (Jason and Laurie)...and dined on some fabulous Sushi (check it out if you are ever in Raleigh....www.sonoraleigh.com). Overall....one of the best dates EVER.

I would have to say that mystery man has made quite the impression. Still trying to process it all and figure where am I in this dating thing. But if I had to give one piece of advice....don't question those that know you well and if they suggest a blind date ....give it a shot!

TGIF

I thought I would NEVER survive this week! This has been a long one. Maybe it's due to the fact it was 79 degrees on Monday and now it is 49 degrees....I literally feel like I am living in two worlds! AND...I am still fighting off a two day stomach bug. Yuck! AND when I finally get my appetite back...it's Friday and I can't have meat. Go figure.



So to make me happy....I decided to go through some wedding pictures today of both Lynn's wedding and Joe's wedding to decide which ones I wanted to purchase and frame. Every time I see this picture of Mike and I just laugh. Because truth be told....it was my only sip (yep..sip) of beer that I had the entire wedding. I was the official "DD" of the night...so I did not get to enjoy the Red Oak like the others (Mike, Joe). However....a nice cold beer would be great about now.



Have a great weekend.....and GO HEELS!

Nanny

Today would have been Nanny Kirk's 93rd birthday. And if she were here....we would be celebrating it for sure. She loved her birthday (Perhaps that's where I get my love for my birthday from)! It's hard to believe she has been gone for almost 5 years....it seems like only yesterday that she was sitting in her chair laughing or arguing with Aunt Mary about something.

I miss Nanny and I would give anything to just have five minutes with her to smell her Halston's perfume, see her ring on her finger that was always spun upside down, or touch her soft skin that had worn from the years of raising 7 children, or listening to the stories she told of life as a young girl in Philly or perhaps hearing her sing along to Lawrence Welk on TV.

I adored Nanny. And there is never a day that I don't miss her. So on this day....I take a moment to say "Happy Birthday Nanny" to wherever your peaceful soul may be.

Love, Jennifer

Dating in 2009

“No man is worth your tears, but once you find one that is, he won't make you cry”

So perhaps this is the mantra that I should have been living my dating life by for the last twelve years. I am sure there would have been far less heartaches and many smarter picks in the bunch of my dating choices. However I am sure I would not have learned as much..... right?

As I tip toe back into the world of dating and do so in 2009 you would think that even though I have elected to take the last eight or so months off, I should be an old pro at this. WRONG. It's different now for some reason. At 32 people look and act differently. They just do. I for example am for less likely to just go out with just anyone and I am becoming very, very picky. I always thought that I was not that way, but maybe because I have chosen not to settle that I am very determined to be even pickier in my dating habits. I find it even more ironic that the notion of being 32, single and not married was weird...is um....not so weird anymore!

The other "fun" thing about this dating journey is the advice and assistance of others who all of the sudden become dating experts. Like the uncle (not naming any names....because they are still one of my favorite uncles) who suggests the CatholicMatch.com site because it worked for a friend of a friend. Or the local neighbor who says the speedating scene is where it is at. Or perhaps that occasional nudge from a co-worker or friend that suggests that joining a gym or a book club would be healthy. The list could go on and on. So you just have to find a point where you either live with it or you chose to live with out it.

So this past week....I finally caved and decided to live with it. An old friend from high school suggested that perhaps a friend of hers meet me for a blind date. Now of course the thought of that made me want to just cringe. But at this point...I was not desperate...but "open" to all possibilities. Smile.

Now folks I am not one for predictions, preminitions, etc. However....so far...I am very proud of myself for staying in the game and taking a chance on love. Because sometimes....you just never know what's around the corner. And the old saying goes....sometimes you have to kiss a lot of toads to find your prince.

Until.... tomorrow.

Sunny Carolina Fridays....

So as I sit and stare out my window over the HVAC system here at Elon....I am envious of the students throwing the Frisbees and frolicking in the sun. Long gone are the days of skipping class (oh come on...we all did it once or 20 times) and just enjoying a sunny Friday. It's so hard to believe that not four days ago we had six inches of snow on the ground and it was 15 degrees. And now it is sunny and a nice 71 degrees outside. I am so looking forward to a weekend of absolutely nothing..perhaps a good workout and a nice walk with the pug. These are the weekends that get me excited about the Spring and Summer when Fridays at 5pm are made up of beers and good times.

So off to my first Carolina Hurricanes game tonight. I have never been to an NHL game before, so I expect to be doing a lot of people watching. Heck....it cannot be that much different from a NASCAR race right? The only difference is that your indoors instead of outdoors, your beer is in a plastic cup instead of a koozie, the players are padded versus the drivers in cars. Other than that I understand the fans to be rowdy, offensive and the atmosphere is loud. If all goes well...I might just be setting myself up for a new addiction! Go Canes!

The First Post

Welcome to my world. So as I read about the lives of others in the world of blogging...I thought it was only appropriate to step up to the plate and try it out. So here goes it! A blog about a single southern gal living in this crazy world. Nothing fancy....just sharing my thoughts on love, life, politics, sports and occasionally my family (sorry fam!). Perhaps it could be the 2009 virtual version of Carrie from Sex and the City....minus the cool shoes and Mr. Big!



I invite you to share your thoughts about my rants and raves ....and I always welcome constructive criticism. So before I go forward ...perhaps I should tell you a little about me. I am 32, single and live with the most adorable and sometimes mischief little pug Winston. He is by far the greatest gift I have ever given myself and you will hear a great deal about him...I am sure.

I am the oldest of four kids (or should I say "grown" children). Being the oldest has its perks....but it also has its downfalls as well (that is for another post). My brother Joe lives in New York City and is newly married to a wonderful gal by the name of Kerry (yes...that would be Kerry Ruggieri!). We love to make fun of her for that. She is by far one of the coolest people I know. My sister Lynn lives in Boston and is also newly married to a swell guy by the name of Michael Beahm. He treats her like a princess and he has adjusted well to the madness of this thing we called family. Finally my youngest sibling is Mike and he lives in Charlotte. He is by far the funniest out of all of my siblings...and scary for him, the most like me. Fortunately I have a great family and blessed to get along with all of them (most of the time). I can't wait to share more stories about each of them!

I also have two amazing parents, Mauro and Katie. They have been married 35 year this June and I could not imagine having better role models to look up to. Now I am sure they would have very nice things to say about me. But if you were to really get them to talk....they probably could tell you some good stories....and not so flattering ones as well. Again....those are for other posts. All in all, I think I was dealt a pretty good hand when it comes to the family card. I am very grateful.



As for me. Well I try to work hard and play even harder. As I move forward with this blog I will share more about what I love most about life and what I want most out of it......so stay tuned!